Lessons From the Wise Men
A Christmas Devotion based on a sermon preached by our late Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam on December 25, 2013
(MATTHEW 2:1-12)
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
This beautiful account of the wise men who arrived in Jerusalem in search of Jesus reminds us that it was not just the Jews who needed a Shepherd-King but that this need was a universal one. The quest of these wise men resulted in a personal encounter with Jesus which brought to them new meaning, purpose and hope. This Christmas Day you and your family can also encounter Jesus in a fresh way as we learn from this account of the wise ones.
• We must have a desire to seek after God.
(Matthew 2:1-2)
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
• We must know God’s Word to know God.
(Matthew 2:4-6)
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”
(John1:1, 14)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
• We must believe, accept and follow God as He leads.
(Matthew 2:9)
“When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.”
• We must desire to worship Him with what He has blessed us with.
(Matthew 2:11)
“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him… And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
• Every fresh encounter will result in an affirmation that we can trust in God’s care and love for us.
(Matthew 2:12)
“Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.”
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